Departures
Issue: September/October 2009
Apothecary Now
Old-fashioned remedies go mod at Seattle’s Dandelion
Pungent, spicy scents perfume the air at Dandelion Botanical Company in Seattle’s trendy Ballard neighborhood. Rows of herb-filled amber glass jars climb the brick walls, bearing herbs with exotic names—blessed thistle, schizandra and vervain—that would have been at home in a medieval apothecary. With greater access to historical information today, there’s a renaissance of interest in natural remedies, says owner Mary Kachi Cassinelli.
Her boutique carries more than 400 herbs that are known for their abilities to heal or soothe various ailments. The selection also includes essential oils, Silk Road teas and locally made soaps and candles. (206) 545-8892, www.dandelionbotanical.com.
Our World in Numbers
128Top speed, in miles per hour, of Kingda Ka, the world’s fastest steel roller coaster, at Six Flags Great Adventures in Jackson, N.J.
85Top speed, in miles per hour, of Goliath, the fastest steel roller coaster on the West Coast, at Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia, Calif.
288Height, in feet, of the U.S. Capitol, from the ground to the top of the Statue of Freedom.
287 Height, in feet, of the Washington State Legislative Building in Olympia, from the ground to the top of the lantern.
53Average early-September temperature, in degrees Fahrenheit, of the coastal waters off Neah Bay, Wash.
81Average September temperature, also in degrees Fahrenheit, of the waters off Honolulu, Hawaii.
Tango Dreams
Dance like the stars in Buenos Aires
If “Dancing with the Stars” makes your feet itch, why not try it yourself in the tango capital of the world? These Buenos Aires hot spots offer entertainment and dance for all in the San Telmo historic tango district.
One of the oldest spots for tango dinner shows in the city, El Viejo Almacen (www.viejoalmacen.com.ar) attracts locals and tourists with lively dance and the sounds of a traditional orchestra.
The dinner shows at Piazzolla Tango (left, www.piazzollatangoshow.com) offer a mix of traditional tango and modern variations. Set in a historic theater, Piazzollo Tango also offers classes for private groups in English.
Gala Tango (www.galatango.com) takes the tango dinner show to a higher level by arranging private transport from your hotel, a full meal and dinner show, a lesson and the opportunity to dance into the wee hours.
Step on it!
A Toronto museum showcases the art of footwear
Within walking distance of the university and museums of Toronto, the Bata Shoe Museum tells the tale of civilizations through footwear. The collection includes 12,000 objects spanning 4,500 years, with items ranging from ancient Egyptian sandals to an ice skate worn by hockey great Wayne Gretzky.
Footwear accessories and artists’ depictions of shoes throughout the ages round out the holdings, which are housed in a modern three-story building whose flat roof and angular walls mimic the shape of a shoebox. Can’t make it to Toronto? Peruse virtual exhibits on the museum’s Web site. (416) 979-7799, www.batashoemuseum.ca.
A Sensory Feast
See, hear and smell autumn in New England by bike
Autumn in New England brings the scent of apple orchards, the crunch of dry leaves and, of course, the spectacular hues of fall foliage. Since bicycle rides are becoming a popular way to experience the sensory delights, here are three trails that offer splendor at every turn.
In Massachusetts, an easy, 15-mile ride through Lexington, Lincoln and Concord lends a Revolutionary War theme to the experience. The route begins on the Minuteman Bikeway in Concord Center and proceeds briefly on auto roads before joining Battle Road, a gravel-surfaced path in Minute Man National Historic Park. Companies such as Concord Bike Tours (www.concordbiketours.com) can show you the way.
The intermediate, 36-mile Recreational Loop 203 bike route takes you through New Hampshire’s White Mountains region. Start in Conway Village and follow the scenic Kancamagus Highway and Bear Notch Road for a colorful journey past covered bridges, waterfalls and multihued trees. Find maps on the state’s Transportation Department Web site (www.nh.gov/dot) and check the Granite State Wheelmen’s site (www.granitestatewheelmen.org) for local knowledge.
Country Inns Along the Trail (www.inntoinn.com) customizes multiday rides on the quiet country roads of Vermont’s Champlain Valley, sandwiched between Vermont’s Green Mountains and New York’s Adirondacks. From the town of Brandon, a three-day loop, with 20- to 40-mile rides per day takes you through rolling farmland, with stops at a different inn each night.
Vintage Venue
The restored Fox Theater brings eclectic artists to Spokane
Massive renovation completed in 2007 restored the grandeur and art deco opulence of Spokane’s Martin Woldson Theater at The Fox, originally built as a movie house with a stage for vaudeville acts when it opened in 1931. If you haven’t been there since it reopened, the onset of fall brings several good reasons to visit the 1,700-seat venue. The highlights include the start of the Spokane Symphony’s new season with concerts featuring works by Ravel, Gershwin and Rimsky-Korsakov (Sept. 26 and 27), Beethoven (Oct. 10 and 11), and Rossini, Stravinsky and others (Oct. 24 and 25). You can also watch jazz legend Dave Brubeck perform with his quartet (Sept. 15) or veteran actor Ed Asner portray FDR in a one-man show (Oct. 17). (509) 624 5992, www.foxtheaterspokane.com.
A Season to Savor
Hood River serves up the flavors of fall
Oregon’s Hood River Valley is one of the best places to savor the juicy tangs of fresh apples and pears that arrive with autumn in the Northwest. The town of Hood River is the starting point for the scenic 35-mile Fruit Loop, which winds past more than 30 U-Pick orchards, farm stands and wineries. You can swing into a farm stand to sample heritage-variety pears, buy fresh apple pie at a country bakery and pick pumpkins along the pastoral route, all within view of snow-capped Mount Hood. The Hood River Valley Harvest Fest, Oct. 16–18, tops off the season of abundance: Billowing white tents overlooking the Columbia River, from Hood River’s waterfront, are filled with a wide variety of locally grown produce, including Hermiston melons and other just-picked fare. While nibbling on samples, you can enjoy lively music, wine tasting and a juried arts show. (800) 366-3530, www.hoodriver.org.
Snacks on a Plane
Remember when airplane trips included miniature meals on oddly shaped plates? Eating on the fly is now a fend-for-yourself proposition. No need to go hungry, though. With planning and creativity, you can eat well while airborne.
Delays happen, so pack provisions, regardless of the length of your flight. Good eat-anytime options to stash in your carry-on include dried fruit and nuts, single-serve chocolate squares, and oatmeal and energy bars. Add a sandwich and some fresh fruit the day you fly, and you’re ready for anything.
At the airport, most food vendors now offer grab ’n’ go or fresh take-out options, so you can buy to bring on board. But please shop with eat-ability and etiquette in mind: Avoid smelly or messy dishes to avoid annoying or splattering fellow flyers. Buy bottled water past the security checkpoint, or, even better, bring an empty bottle from home and fill it at a postsecurity bubbler.
“Buy-on-board” meals are convenient and getting tastier and better-priced. But you may need to have a credit card and your flexibility ready: The best meals may sell out before the cart reaches your row.
Still hungry? Believe it or not, some airlines still serve complimentary meals or generous snacks. Last we checked, Continental Airlines serves snacks or meals on flights more than two hours long. JetBlue encourages passengers to have seconds when the chips, cookies, nuts and crackers come around. Hawaiian Airlines serves preservative-free entrees on all trans-Pacific flights, and on Horizon Air, the free handouts include Northwest microbrews, wines and such snacks as Tim’s Cascade Style Potato Chips.
